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OJMR Architects | Fritz Residence

L Shaped Simplicity - Wrapped around a cooling pool with ample shade and expansive living areas, this Jay M. Reynolds residence in Palm Springs, combines two simple volumes to create a modernistic whole.

SiteThe house is located on a flat, irregularly shaped lot at the end of a cul-de-sac. The neighbourhood contains a variety of styles and references to the preferred typical suburban desert subdivision architecture.

DesignThe house is designed for a retired couple with the need for guest bedroom suites and a large communal space for the living, dining, and kitchen areas.

To achieve a feeling of "simplicity" within conventional means, it was decided that planning and construction must be straight-forward and the character of the house reflect a strategy of enclosure and openness focused towards the main outdoor space. Two simple volumes are connected together to define a corner with one wing containing the guest bedrooms, and the other containing the master suite. The two wings are connected at the main living, dining, and kitchen space.

Hallways are located along the east and south sides of the two wings and help to define the laterally spaced rooms, which can be closed off from the circulation zone with large sliding walls. The rooms all access the outdoor pool/courtyard space from large sliding glass walls.

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